Written by: Nicole Arnold, Nicole Arnold Interiors

Over the years, I’ve had people ask me why they should hire an interior designer when they could just do their own decorating. After all, there’s a billion-dollar industry targeting those weekend warriors and aspiring Do-it-Yourselfers to do just that. I actually love to answer this question, which is a good thing- because I encounter it a lot!

Let me share with you exactly what I tell people when people ask me, “Why should I hire an interior designer?”

INTERIOR DESIGN IS MORE THAN JUST DECORATING

True design is so much more than matching pre-fabricated curtains and throw pillows from a commonly known online source to your room’s featured painting! I like to make an analogy to explain the difference between interior design and decorating…

Would you trust building your new custom home to someone who has done handyman work, or would you hire an architect?

A professional interior designer has studied her art, vetted her resources, and can create a cohesive culmination of color, space, light, fabric, texture and many more elements that comprise a great design. At Nicole Arnold Interiors, we not only know how to aesthetically harmonize these items, but also acknowledge the functionality and performance factors to ensure the items will work for your personal lifestyle. What’s more, we can provide custom looks that no one else has but you!

2. HIGH-QUALITY INTERIOR DESIGN RAISES THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME

Even if you’re not thinking of selling your home in the near future, preserving its value is still important. Especially when renovating or building a new home, thoughtful interior design will include high-quality materials, sustainable finishes and fixtures, and creative architectural elements (think everything that is permanently attached to the home).

This not only raises the value of your home (and ultimately results in a higher sales price) but will also provide you with years of enjoyment. Layer on a showcase of incredible custom furniture and drapery and you’ll be the envy of the block! Professional interior designers have the expertise to provide guidance that yields a great return on your investment as well as accessibility to fixtures and furnishings unavailable to the general public.

3. DO IT YOURSELF OR DO IT WITH EASE?

When you hire a professional interior designer, there’s comfort knowing you can release responsibility and accountability to us, along with the stress that goes along with forging unfamiliar ground…you get to actually enjoy the process of redesigning your space! Your results are guaranteed to delight you AND to be completed on schedule.

Conversely, when you try to work independently on your interior design project, you run the risk of getting distracted by all of the things that “pop up” in your life. The project tends to take longer — or may never be finished — leaving you lamenting over an incomplete home. And guess what? When you’re unhappy, you might end up calling in a pro to fix your mistakes anyway—unnecessarily increasing both time and money spent. We see this all the time and we love these clients! But, your best bet is to start with a professional interior designer from the start, so you ensure your new interiors bring you maximum joy with as little downtime as possible.